Promotion of Chinese language: Chinese, Pakistani Institutions ready to collaborate

- Initiative to create threshold for local business community to have close liaison with Chinese enterprises

NHT Report

ISLAMABAD, April 29: Chinese and Pakistani Institutions will join hands to promote the learning of the Chinese Language Initiative to promote the bilateral ties and enhance the student exchange and education opportunities. This initiative will help students and faculty members in Pakistan familiarize themselves with the Chinese language, and this program will open more doors for opportunities for business and employment. These were the remarks by the participants of the session held virtually between Viivbook, Tianjin Hantong Educational Technology Co, and leading Universities from different regions of Pakistan to build an understanding of the Chinese Language Initiative program by Viivbook. Asif Noor, Director of the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS), moderated the session. In his introduction, Asif Noor has explained the entire program and shared that the pilot program of this nature has already been successfully running in two leading Universities in Pakistan, BahauddinZakariya University (BZU), Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University (SBBWU), Peshawar. While explaining further, he added that as this program was intended to expand to other Universities and this virtual session was meant to appraise the interested and upcoming batch of participating Universities about the program and its benefits. AyazQaiser, Director of Student Affairs, University of Sialkot, Dr. Saleem Farooq Shaukat, Director, and Dr. Ali Ahmad, Associate Professor, Head of Humanities Department, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Dr. BushraParveen, Director ORIC, Rawalpindi Women University were present on occasion. Director Beijing Normal University Belt and Road Department Zhang Jian Chen was also present.

While speaking on occasion, Dr. Saleem Farooq, Director, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, said that this initiative is timely and required. As a result of thriving CPEC, there will be more opportunities for young students. This program will help students mainly from the agriculture region of Vehari; learning the Chinese language creates a significant threshold for the local businesses to thrive and cooperate with Chinese enterprises primarily related to agriculture. AyazQaiser, Director of Student Affairs, University of Sialkot, said that students and faculty members would benefit from this program. Like the University of Sialkot has developed linkages with one University in China, the language is necessary to enhance relations and educational exchange. Dr. BushraParveen, Director ORIC, Rawalpindi Women University, said that Women play an essential role in the nation's development. She said that the women's university always encourages students and faculty members to opt for such programs in order for them to enhance their skills and build a learning environment for better economic and social well-being. Dr. Bushra said that Rawalpindi Women's University is interested in offering such programs to the students. Founder of Viivbook Zhang Libei said that IPDS had played a very instrumental role in promoting PakistanChina linkages, especially in developing lasting ties amongst people of both countries. She said that Viivbook is a leading Softwareas-a-Service (SAAS) platform offered by Tianjin Hantong Educational Technology Co, China, specializing in helping to learn Chinese experience of more than 13 years in providing quality Chinese learning services at all levels. One of the great benefits of learning through Viivbook is that with self-paced learning, the services are available on both PC and mobile devices, making it much more convenient for users to take their classes anywhere. During the interactive session, a representative from Viivbook explained the details of the program that has already been successfully running in the two Pakistani Universities. Participants have asked various questions from the representative, and they have expressed their desire to cooperate in the coming days. A formal MoU will be signed between the concerned, and implementation of the program will be done. The representative has also said that the Viivbook is not only offering this language program, but there are various other bonus initiatives, programs, and opportunities that will help Pakistani students to thrive. It is also shared that this program will be expanded to other Universities across Pakistan.